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Overview

This combination PCI Express controller card lets you add both a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port and an eSATA port to your desktop PC, through a single PCIe slot. The versatile controller card offers a cost-effective way to add high-performance connectivity to your computer, with support for newer USB 3.1 devices as well as eSATA hard drives.

Fast transfers over USB 3.1 Gen 2

At up to 10Gbps, the USB 3.1 PCIe card delivers the speed you need for seamless performance from your compatible devices. It’s also backward compatible with previous versions of USB, so you can connect your existing USB 3.0 / 2.0 / 1.1 equipment.

Connect to eSATA devices

The controller card also connects your computer to an eSATA device, providing a hot-pluggable, high-speed storage solution for backing up or archiving data. With support for SATA I, II and III hard drives, and data transfer speeds of up to 6Gbps, the controller card offers reliable performance for your external SATA storage applications.

Versatile installation options

For added versatility, the controller card is equipped with a standard-profile bracket and includes a low-profile bracket for installation in small form-factor computers.

The PEXUSB311A1E is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Applications

Upgrade an older PCIe equipped system to USB 3.1 Gen 2 compatibility

Expand your system or maintain support for eSATA-based external drive storage

Data Sheet(s)

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Buy

USB 3.1 is the most recent version of the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard for connecting computers and electronic devices. It is capable of data transfer speeds up to 10Gbps, and while it can use the USB-C connector type, it can also use a variety of other connector types. To achieve USB 3.1 transfer speeds, your USB host connection, cables, and device must all support USB 3.1. USB 3.1 is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps).

USB 3.0 is capable of data transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. USB 3.0 is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps).

USB 3.1 is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, except in the following scenarios:

USB-B 3.1 cables are not compatible with USB-B 2.0 ports.

Unless you use an adapter, USB-C ports or cables will not work with USB-A or USB-B ports or cables.

Devices that require USB 3.1 transfer speeds of 10Gbps might not work with USB 3.0 or USB 2.0, or you might experience lower transfer speeds and impacted performance.

Bus-powered USB devices that requires more power than what USB 2.0 can provide are not compatible with USB 2.0.

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To transfer data at speeds of 10Gbps, you need to confirm that the following components in your setup support USB 3.1:

The USB host connection

The USB cable

The USB device and any subcomponents (for example, a hard drive docking station and the hard drives in the docking station)

Note: USB 3.1 is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Devices that support USB 3.1 should have the USB 3.1 symbol on them. If the USB 3.1 symbol does not appear on your USB source or device, refer to the information provided by the manufacturer to confirm whether the USB source or device support USB 3.1.

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If your setup components support USB 3.1 but you are experiencing slower transfer speeds than you expected, consider the following:

A USB host connection with multiple USB 3.1 ports might not be able to support 10Gbps on each port simultaneously.

The type of port on a device does not determine whether the device is capable of USB 3.1 speeds. A USB-C port might not support USB 3.1 speeds, while USB-A and USB-B ports might support USB 3.1 speeds.

Any other devices that you include in your setup, such as an older hard drive in a USB 3.1 enclosure, might create a point of congestion and slow down transfer speeds.

To confirm the functionality of your USB host connection, its ports, and any other devices in your setup, refer to the information provided by the manufacturer.

Note: USB 3.1 is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Devices that support USB 3.1 should have the USB 3.1 symbol on them. If the USB 3.1 symbol does not appear on your USB source or device, refer to the information provided by the manufacturer to confirm whether the USB source or device support USB 3.1.